Machine for taking finger prints



Feb. 28, 1956 T. H KRUEGER 2,736,114

MACHINE FOR TAKING FINGER PRINTS Filed Nov. 15, 1952 INVENTOR.

United States Patent MACHINE FOR TAKING FINGER PRINTS Theodore H. Krueger, Stratford, Conm, assignor to Better Packages, Inc., a corporation of New York Application November 15, 1952, Serial No. 320,721

1 Claim. (Cl. 41-4) This invention relates to a machine for making a record of finger prints for identification purposes and the object of the invention is to provide a simple machine or fixture for this purpose combining a finger preparation surface, an imprinting surface adapted to be supplied with an imprint paper gummed on the back and a moistening attachment by which the gummed print may be moistened for affixing to a document to be identified or to a record card.

The use of finger prints for identification is an ancient practice and is widely used for such purposes as the identification of criminals. It has also been used for an identification for persons signing particular documents, for example checks. One field of such use is by merchants, bankers, etc., who cash checks, sometimes for persons not known to them nor fully identified. Under these conditions, it is considered desirable to attach a finger print of the person cashing the check directly to the check so that in case the check should be returned unpaid, it is possible to trace the person who presented the check. In order that such finger prints may be taken and applied to the check or other document with the least possible trouble, a machine or a fixture by which the necessary steps may be rapidly performed is very desirable. The machine may also be used for taking finger prints and attaching them to record cards for filing purposes.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one preferred form of the invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine or fixture;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing part of the frame and the cover plate detached therefrom;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the tearing off of a piece of the strip;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the moistening attachment taken on line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of part of the moistener guide taken on line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the act of attaching the imprinted strip section to a check or record card.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device shown comprises a frame or casing 10 preferably in the form of a unitary casting having a central section constituting a casing 12, in which is mounted a supporting roller 14, for carrying a roll of prepared gummed paper 16, upon which the finger prints are to be marked. Pr0jecting from the opposite sides of the central casing 12, are wing sections 18 and 20. The wing 18 is provided with a fiat top 22 surrounded by a rim 24, so as to form a shallow trough for receiving a pad 26 on which finger is to be pressed. Pad 26 may be an ink pad but is preferably a pad containing a chemical preparation which will not visibly stain the finger, but which when the finger is applied to a chemically prepared paper will produce a permanent visible imprint thereon.

Wing 20 projecting from the opposite side of the central case, carries means for rendering the finger imprinted record slip adhesive so that it may be attached to the document to be identified or to a record card.

The paper in the roll 16 is preferably prepared in such a way that its outer surface is chemically treated so that when the finger which has been coated with chemical from the pad. 26 is pressed thereon, it will make a permanent record on the outer surface of the paper. The under surface of the paper is preferably coated with a dry adhesive so that when a piece of paper with the record thereon is torn off, it may be moistened and adhered to the check or card.

The construction for holding and guiding the paper coming from the roll 16 is as follows: A bracket 30 carrying the roller 14 is mounted on the inside of a cover plate 32 covering a vertical opening in the side wall of the casing. At the top of the casing is a horizontal wall 34 forming a part of the casting, an opening 36 being left between the front wall of the casing and the edge of the wall 34 to permit the paper to pass upwardly therethrough. Wall 34 is provided with cover plate forming a table 38,. this cover plate having a flange 40 along the edge of the opening 36 so as to provide a smooth path for the paper. The table 38- projects at the other side of the casing and is bent into a slightly overhanging smooth flange 42. Mounted on top of the table is a three sided frame 44, the two side legs of which are connected by a cross bar 46 which is spaced slightly above the table. The frame 44 is itself spaced slightly above the table by the spacing bars 48 (Figure 3). The paper passing up through the opening 36 passes under the middle bar 50 of the frame 44, the edges of the paper being guided under the edges of the side bars of the frame and finally under the cross bar 46. Carried at the front edge of the cross bar 46 is a serrated tear ofi blade or knife 52. In order to advance the paper strip after a piece has been torn off, a feed roller 54, preferably of rubber, is provided with its upper surface projecting through a slot 56, the roller being mounted on a shaft 58, the end of which projects from the side of the casing and is provided with a button 62 by which the feed roller may be rotated. Springs 60 mounted under the wall 34 bear against the shaft 58 and constitute friction brakes for restricting the freedom of rotation of the roller.

The cover 32 may be removably secured to the casing in any suitable manner. As illustrated the bar 50 of the frame 44 is provided with an inclined flange 64, over which engages a hook shaped flange 66 at the top of the cover. At the lower end of the cover is a flange 68 fitting under the edge of the casing and a retaining screw 70 secures the lower edge of the cover to the casing. A finger hole 72 is preferably provided to facilitate the removal of the cover after the screw 70 has been vunscrewed. The cover has to be removed only when a new roll of paper is to be inserted.

The wing section 20 has a recess 74 therein, in which is placed a tank 76 having a seat 78 therein for the reception of the butt of a brush 80 (Figure 5). The moistening liquid in the tank is carried up to the tip of the brush by capillary attraction. The tank has a pivoted cover 82 to the front edge of which is secured by rivets 84, a presser bar 86 (Fig. 6). The presser bar is spaced from the cover by washers 88 so as to leave a space 90 for the paper to pass through. The slip of paper 92 with the finger print thereon is torn off as shown in Figure 4 and is then passed over the tank cover 82 and under the presser bar 86 and is moistened on its under side by contact with the brush 80. It is then applied to the document or card as shown in Figure 7. The presser bar 86 is preferably bent alonga longitudinal line as indicated at 94 (Figure 5) so that it normally contacts the slip of paper only at its front and rear edges. When the slip of paper is passed under the bar it contacts the brush on its lower gummed side but does not contact the mid dle part of the under side of the presser bar which might be wet from possible contact with the brush. Thus there will be a small space between the upper surface of the slip of paper and the under side of the middle part of the presser bar as indicated at 96. This prevents the finger print from being smeared as it might be if it passed directly in contact with a wet surface of the presser bar. Set screws 98 at each end of the presser bar contact the edge of the tank 76 and enable the position of the cover and presser bar to be adjusted with respect to the tip of the brush.

In the use of the machine, the operative who is going to take the finger print usually stands at the end of the machine opposite Wing portion 20. The subject Whose finger print is to be taken stands at the other side of the machine near wing 18. The operative presses the subjects finger upon pad '26, and then moves the finger and then presses upon the paper upon table 38. The subject then removes his finger andthe operative turns the button 62 to project the end of the strip of paper under the cross bar 46 and tears ofi the slip 92 with the finger print thereon. He then passes it through the moistener and applies it to the check or other document to which it adheres.

The construction is very compact and convenient and enables finger prints to be taken with the least possible inconvenience to the subject and to be immediately applied to the document to be identified. The immediate application of the print to the document is important so as to avoid the possibility of error.

I claim:

A fixture for taking finger prints comprising a central casing having a chamber therein of such size as to hold a roll of gummed paper, the top wall of the chamber being substantially horizontal and constituting a table, a support in the chamber for supporting a roll of adhesive paper with its axis substantially horizontal, means for guiding the paper strip from the roll over said table with the ungummed side of the paper exposed, a tearoif blade supported above the front edge of the table and substantially parallel with the axis of the paper roll, and under which the paper strip is fed after passing over the table, said table having a slot therethrough, a feed roller mounted with its upper portion projecting through said slot so as to engage and feed the paper strip passing over the table, said feedroller being mounted on an axle parallel with the axis of the roll of paper, said axle projecting at one side of said casing and having the means thereon by which the axle and feed roller may be rotated, said casing having a wing portion projecting from one side thereof, formed to hold a pad of finger treating preparation in a substantially horizontal position at a lower level than the level of said table, said casing carrying a second wing portion projecting from the side thereof opposite to the side at which the pad holding Wing is located, said second wing portion having means for holding a moistener for the gummed tape projecting in a direction parallel with the axis of said paper roll, but at a lower level than said table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,152,866 Bozung Apr. 4, 1939 2,226,566 Krueger Dec. 31, 1940 2,299,652 Rahn Oct. 20, 1942 2,362,755 Krueger Nov. 14, 1944 2,497,727 Hanson Feb. 14, 1950 

